Delhi: Plans to modernise utility infrastructure in Chandni Chowk by shifting overhead electricity and communication cables below ground have encountered fresh delays, prompting the Delhi government to redesign the project’s implementation strategy. The hold-up reflects the growing complexity of upgrading ageing infrastructure in one of the capital’s busiest heritage districts, where multiple underground services overlap without comprehensive records.
The Chandni Chowk underground cabling initiative was expected to begin with two pilot stretches before expanding across the wider walled city. However, technical surveys have revealed a far denser network of existing electricity, water, sewerage, gas and telecom lines than initially anticipated. Officials involved in the exercise indicate that the absence of integrated utility mapping has complicated project planning and delayed the tendering process. To address these challenges, the power department is preparing a high-level coordination mechanism that will bring together agencies responsible for roads, civic infrastructure, water supply, gas distribution, electricity distribution and telecommunications. The committee is expected to develop a common construction schedule, determine work windows and minimise repeated excavation by different departments. Urban planners note that the issue extends beyond relocating cables. Chandni Chowk’s narrow streets, continuous commercial activity and high pedestrian volumes leave little room for conventional excavation.
Without coordinated planning, repeated digging for separate utility works could disrupt businesses, worsen congestion and increase maintenance costs over time. The revised approach therefore includes the development of a common utility duct alongside the Chandni Chowk underground cabling project. Such corridors allow multiple service providers to access infrastructure through a single protected passage, reducing the need for future road cutting and improving long-term maintenance efficiency. Similar integrated utility systems are increasingly being adopted in dense urban centres seeking more resilient and organised infrastructure networks. Officials also expect parts of the project to rely on trenchless construction methods, enabling underground installation with limited surface disruption. The technology is particularly relevant in historic neighbourhoods where preserving streetscapes and maintaining daily economic activity remain key considerations. The pilot sections, identified along two major roads in the locality, were originally estimated to require an investment of around ₹8 crore.
However, authorities acknowledge that revised engineering designs, additional utility integration and unforeseen site conditions are likely to increase project costs. A fresh financial assessment will be prepared before construction contracts are finalised. Infrastructure experts say the experience underscores a broader challenge facing Indian cities attempting to modernise decades-old utility systems while supporting growing commercial activity. Comprehensive utility mapping, inter-agency coordination and future-ready underground infrastructure are increasingly viewed as essential for reducing civic disruption and improving service reliability. For residents, traders and visitors, the project’s success will ultimately depend on how effectively authorities balance heritage conservation, economic activity and modern urban infrastructure.
